Genre-Bending Gothic Novels

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8 books

If, like me, you relish mystery, the supernatural, the uncanny, horror, and much suspense, this selection of genre-bending gothic novels will be sure to please. Some are tried and true classics, others are written by more contemporary authors, but each keeps the reader second-guessing the unknown while navigating a sense of threat in an unforgettable eerie atmosphere.

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The Woman in White

Wilkie Collins, 2003

First published in 1859 and combining gothic horror with psychological realism, The Woman in White is considered the first mystery novel. A 19th-century masterpiece, its use of multiple narrators makes it an unusual but true page-turner.

The Thirteenth Tale

Diane Setterfield, 2009

Red-haired twins, a topiary garden in a mansion, a library, a reclusive author with a secret… The Thirteenth Tale spins such a compelling dual-timeline gothic mystery that it is hard to put down.

The Monk

Matthew Lewis, 2009

Set mostly in an abbey and featuring a monk torn between religious duty and depravity, The Monk is a novel charged with eroticism and salacious imagery. As scandalous as it was when it was first published in 1796, this gothic horror novel remains a wicked classic.

Zofloya

Charlotte Dacre, 1997

Where 19th century gothic often paints helpless women, Zofloya offers a female protagonist whose every wicked layer and psychology are craftily explored. In this supernatural gothic horror published in 1806, the author subverted expectations such that the agent of jealousy, desire, perversion, murder, and corruption is no other than its unforgettable character, Victoria de Loredani. A powerful novel.

The Stuart Vampire

Andrea Zuvich, 2014

For those who savour Anne Rice novels but are looking for something more informed by history, this is a treat set in the 17th century. Blending alternative history and gothic horror, this vampire tale by historian, Andrea Zuvich is highly satisfying and gorgeously crafted.

Calista

Laura Rahme, 2021

A Victorian gothic that borrows from the fantastique to create a haunting historical mystery set in Greece and England. Themes of domestic abuse, obsession, and mesmerism feature prominently.

Marina

Carlos Ruiz Zafón, 2015

Exquisite in prose and in its depiction of gothic Barcelona, this first novel by the author of The Shadow of the Wind, is a wondrous blend of mystery, horror, romance and the fantastique. A suspenseful adventure that surprises with its moving conclusion.

The Island of Dr. Moreau

H.G. Wells, 2015

Set in a remote landscape with strange animal happenings underlined by an eerie threat, this classic of literature, combining imperial gothic and science fiction is one of the best novels I have ever read.